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What Is Uber's Ride-Sharing Services?

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Spencer Williams Situation Analysis MBA 620: Marketing Management January 15, 2016 Uber, a privately held, ride-sharing service has catapulted itself into a massive riding sharing transportation company, both locally and internationally. Ordinary people from all around the world drive Uber transportation, literally. "In 2015, the ride share service was available in sixty-eight countries and three hundred cities worldwide" (Number of Uber Drivers in Selected Cities, 2015). "By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our apps, we {Uber} make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers" (Uber). Through an app, users can set their location and request a ride …show more content…

In 2009, Uber was founded as the first ride-sharing service; today competitors such as Lyft, SideCar, and Zipcar Inc. are all trying to hack away at Uber's market share (Uber Technologies, Inc.). Uber strategically aims to attract new drivers and riders and has best utilized social media, free ride passes and crowd funding to sustain and grow its business. Uber quickly appealed to that of young professionals. Those that drive and ride are of various ages, but younger professionals largely support Uber. The clientele who utilize the ride-sharing service most often uses it to get home after a night out. In its attempt to remain mainstream, Uber has expanded its market offerings to include extra large SUV rides for larger parties, town car vehicle transfers and even limo services in select cities (Uber Technologies, Inc.). Uber has also created "bulk" transfers for guest at your event, such as a wedding or office party, warranting that guest should arrive home safely after a fun night out (Uber …show more content…

Uber has fought off many legal challenges to its business model generated largely by both politicians and existing business platforms. "In Chicago, the consumer protection board proposed limiting the ability of car service drivers to use a smartphone, which the board defined as an unauthorized metering device (Uber Technologies, Inc.)". The smartphone platform is largely the basis to Uber's service and success and would essentially render Uber's services useless. "In New York, the Taxi and Limousine Commission issued a notice stating that it did not authorize the use of Uber or any other taxi app; culminating the effect of putting Uber out of business in the market (Uber Technologies, Inc.)". Uber has also faced great opposition in Los Angeles, Dallas, Colorado, Columbus and New Orleans, to name a few. To improve their relations and uphold their value, Uber has fought back against municipal and state authorities by using social media. The idea is that by engaging local riders with their locally elected officials could protect the ride-share service. "In Washington, D.C., the legislation taking aim at Uber was dismantled and in New York, Uber won a court victory in June 2013, when an appellate court lifted a temporary order that blocked the company's test program for using smartphone apps to hail taxicabs (Uber

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